myFirstHome
PROBLEM: Create a website to address a social justice topic
SOLUTION: Website to assist first time home buyers
MY ROLE: User Research, Web Design/Development
TIMELINE: SEP - DEC 2017
The task was to address a social justice issue and the idea I had was to create a website that would assist first time home buyers. The features include creating an account, a working loan calculator, table of average home prices pulled from a database, and a map that shows realtors in the area. I implemented HTML, CSS, JS/Jquery, Bootstrap and CakePHP within the website and followed the agile development model which challenged me to complete the website in several sprints. I also gained valuable experience in the area of user experience by creating backlogs, personas, use cases, wireframes and doing competitive analysis which can be seen on the accompanying documentation website.
Project Proposal
Purpose: A website to assist first time home buyers. It will allow the users to calculate how much they need to save over time and compare it with the projected costs that go into buying a home. The website will provide information on certain aspects of home buying such as loans/mortgages, interest, principle, monthly payments, utilities, etc. It will reflect current and past home price/interest trends and allow you to project how much you will be paying, how long it will take to pay the home off and when the best time is to buy a home.
Audience/Stakeholders: All ages but mainly targeted towards a younger audience who are looking to buy a home in the future (18- 25 yrs). Around the first time they acquire their first job because they will have an income to work with and save up. They will learn how to save up a for a home and be able to buy a home earlier in their lives. The educational system does not teach these skills and this younger generation goes into the real world unprepared. Stakeholders will be able to produce revenue from the advertisements and listings on the site. It also will help boost the housing market because more people will be looking to save up for a home.
Goals/Objectives
Educate about home buying to a younger generation & first time home buyers
Promote saving/budgeting
Assist in finding a first home
Allow for you to see how much you should be saving monthly
Show visuals of trends in housing market
Show projected costs that go into buying a home
Boost housing market
Provide information on income to debt ratio and what loans you will be able to apply for
